2021 Syracuse Branch Shakespeare Competition

News

The Syracuse Chapter held its Shakespeare Competition virtually this year with ten finalists who won their local competitions at Central New York School Districts.   Contestants are required to perform an excerpt of a monologue from a Shakespearean play along with one of the bard's sonnets.

Students participating, along with their school districts, were Lillyanna Whipple (Camden),  Bel Lazarsky (Cazenovia), Emilee Edick (CBA), Kalysta Donaghy-Robinson (Fabius-Pompey), Rachel Bouwens (Homer), Anka Chiorini (Jamesville-Dewitt), Andra Benson (Lansing), Arman Nizam (Manlius Pebble Hill) , Moira McAnich (Tully), and Alexandra Dubaniewicz (Westhill).

The first place winner was Anka Chiorini.  Anka will be competing in the national competition, normally held in New York City but this year held virtually. The national winner receives a trip to London to attend the British American Drama Academy Mid-Summer Conservatory Program.  Second place went to runner-up Emilee Edick and 3^rd place to Lillyanna Whipple.  Honorable Mentions were given to Andra Benson and Rachel Bouwens.

Anka's and Emilee's performances are below.  Anka's monologue is from a speech by Pucelle (Joan of Arc) in Henry VI, Part 1, Act V, Scene iv, and her sonnet is Number 134.  Emilee's monologue is from Constance's speech in King John, Act III, scene iv, and she recites Sonnet 25.

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